Akihiro Yano
Japanese itamae and co-founder of Yan Ken Pon, a sushi and ramen izakaya on Plaza Cascorro in Madrid.
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Akihiro Yano is a Japanese chef and itamae who came to Spain from Japan, drawn by his love of classic Japanese literature, bringing experience in Japanese cuisine and restaurant management. He co-founded Yan Ken Pon, a Japanese izakaya on Plaza Cascorro in Madrid's Embajadores neighborhood, together with Twiggy Hirota, a sake sommelier (kikisakeshi) certified by the Japan Culinary Academy. The restaurant serves traditional sushi and slow-cooked ramen alongside a library of Japanese literature and cultural events.
Biography
Career
Yano came to Spain from Japan, drawn by his love of classic Japanese literature, bringing experience in Japanese cuisine and restaurant management. He co-founded Yan Ken Pon on Plaza Cascorro in Madrid's Embajadores neighborhood together with Twiggy Hirota, a sake sommelier (kikisakeshi) certified by the Japan Culinary Academy with its Bronze Certification of Japanese Cooking Skills. Together they built the restaurant into both a kitchen and a cultural space, with a library of Japanese novels and manga and a program of courses and events.
Philosophy
The kitchen is guided by creativity, sensitivity and a hospitality rooted in humility and attention to small details, in the spirit of omotenashi. The menu centers on traditional sushi and homemade ramen, its broth cooked slowly for depth in versions from meat to vegan, curry, miso or prawn, alongside izakaya staples like okonomiyaki, takoyaki, edamame and gyoza.
Restaurants
Akihiro Yano in our guides
Editorial guides featuring Akihiro Yano’s restaurants.
Frequently asked
Who is the chef at Yan Ken Pon?
Akihiro Yano, a Japanese itamae, co-founded Yan Ken Pon in Madrid alongside Twiggy Hirota, a certified sake sommelier.
What cuisine does Yan Ken Pon serve?
Traditional Japanese sushi and homemade, slow-cooked ramen in several versions, plus izakaya staples like okonomiyaki, takoyaki and gyoza, alongside Japanese sake.
Where is Yan Ken Pon located?
On Plaza Cascorro in Madrid's Embajadores neighborhood, part of the city's central Centro district, close to La Latina and the Rastro flea market on weekends.
Why did Akihiro Yano move to Spain?
He came to Spain from Japan drawn by his love of classic Japanese literature, bringing experience in Japanese cuisine and restaurant management.
Who is Twiggy Hirota at Yan Ken Pon?
Twiggy Hirota, is a sake sommelier (kikisakeshi) certified by the Japan Culinary Academy, who co-founded the restaurant with Akihiro Yano.
Does Yan Ken Pon offer more than food?
Yes, it doubles as a cultural space with a library of Japanese novels and manga, plus courses and events, all in the spirit of omotenashi hospitality.